Berlin (Germany), Dec. 15 (LaPresse) – European leaders gathered in Berlin welcomed the significant progress made in recent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, reiterating full support for President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. In a joint statement, the heads of state and government emphasized that any decision regarding the country’s future, including territorial matters, rests solely with Ukraine. The document, signed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz along with the leaders of France, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, highlighted the “strong convergence” between the United States, Ukraine, and Europe toward “a just and lasting peace.” The leaders reaffirmed that Ukraine’s security, sovereignty, and prosperity are central to Euro-Atlantic security as a whole. The shared goal is to ensure Kiev a future that is independent, secure, and free from the risk of new Russian aggression.